Secrets of Us A Forbidden Love Romance (Alina)

Chapter 47

Engaged

The months have gone by really quick. Aiden has been better since Zaid left, and now he's been back to his normal upbeat self.

He's taken up his game.

Both in basketball and in bed.

My legs are sore as I walk outside. The air is cold, freezing my nose, but I don't complain. It's better than the unbearable heat. Aiden's had an amazing first half of basketball season and next year they're hoping to go to the state tournament.

I wrap my arms around myself to keep in some of the warmth.

Winter break is next week, and all I can think about is Zaid.

It makes me feel guilty. That I'm excited that he'll be in town. I've never had a pleasant experience with him, and I should hate him, but just the thought of maybe seeing him again...

I shudder.

Sometimes I get this gut feeling that he's watching me, but when I turn to face the

corner

of whatever room I'm in, he's never there. Of course he's not.

I hate myself for missing his charms, even though they annoyed me, even though

he tested every inch of my sanity when he was here.

I can't explain the way his face haunts my dreams.

That I sometimes think about him, even when it is Aiden deep inside me.

I shake my head, trying to push the thoughts away. I shouldn't feel this way. I'm with

Aiden.

Zaid is his brother, and whatever chemistry there was between us before he left is nothing.

But I still haven't gotten Aiden to talk about the night Zaid got arrested. Every time

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Engaged

bring it up, he shuts down, changes the subject, or tells me it doesn't matter anymore.

my pocket, pulling me from

Come over

texts me like that and I know immediately that something is off. I stuff my

if he's been looking out the window and waiting for me to get home. He doesn't say anything before he pulls on

question him, twisting as he

I frown at him, feeling strange. He looks upset, running a hand through his hair before

sorry, Alina," he says, his voice quiet,

further inside. "Sorry

sighs, rubbing the back of his neck. "I didn't

the hallways. Confusion unfurls inside me and I have half a mind to pull my arm from his

Didn't know what?"

stops at the entrance to the living room, his shoulders tense. "My dad... he got

Jake is engaged. It's

be no reason for my stomach to

frown, trying to rein in the panic fluttering through

doesn't answer right away. Something else is wrong,

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into the living

in the middle of the room, is my

next to her

room spins for a second, my breath catching in my throat as I try to make sense of what I'm seeing.

an enormous rock glinting beneath the room light. Nausea rolls through

not reaches his eyes and he

me as if I could have missed that

from across the room.

feel Aiden behind me, his hand at my lower

tension filling the

My voice cracks, and I clear my throat, trying to

terrible smile still on

the holidays, so you weren't

late for that," I

steps beside me, his face pale, his jaw clenched. He's horrified,

the way he can't even look at his

step toward me, her hands outstretched.

wonderful news?"

"Wonderful news?" I scoff.

Jake flinches.

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at me. "Why are you